Local Nonprofits Have Our Backs– Who Has Theirs?
While nonprofit work is generally celebrated in this country, it often emphasizes the achievements of major nonprofits and forgets the crucial work that small, localized nonprofits do in their community. The purpose of my research was to determine the role that local environmental nonprofits play in Seattle, and evaluate their successes and challenges. In the midst of increased political threats to nonprofit work, I was curious to understand both the preexisting and more recent challenges faced by smaller, local nonprofits. To investigate this question, I used my firsthand experience as a social media outreach intern with a local nonprofit, The Nature Project, in addition to interviewing nonprofit employees and conducting independent research. Through this, I determined that local nonprofits play a vital role in resource sharing and community building in Seattle. Their success is largely due to their close community ties that equip them to meet and advocate for local needs best. However, many challenges were identified, with two primary concerns being funding instability and employee burnout. With these preexisting problems being exacerbated by current administrative behavior, I determined that funding diversification and increased community engagement are best practices for nonprofits to protect their work. Additionally, as local environmental stewards, we must help protect local nonprofits through fundraising and donating, as well as advocating and volunteering with them. While there are steps that local nonprofits can take to protect themselves in times of instability, it is crucial for us to support local nonprofits– the way they do for us.
